White Bear First Nation to receive $9.2 million for new water system
As part of a plan to end boil water advisories on First Nations by 2021, the federal government has announced an investment of $9.2 million to replace the water treatment system in White Bear First Nation, which has been under a water advisory for more than five years.
The announcement was made by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Minister Carolyn Bennett at the Assembly of First Nations general assembly on Tuesday.
“You should ... have the same right as those of us in downtown Toronto to be able to turn on the tap and drink the water and bathe your babies safely — things that most Canadians take totally for granted,” said Bennett.
Being newly elected, Nathan Pasap, chief of White Bear First Nation, acknowledged the advocacy work of former chiefs to get the funding needed for their community and thanked Bennett for helping their community move forward in a positive way.
“We look forward to having clean, safe drinking water in our community,” said Pasap.
The money will go toward a state-of-the-art water treatment facility and will give more than 800 residents access to clean water by December 2018.
“I think everyone here will acknowledge it’s been a long time coming and for far too long, people in your community have not had access to potable water on reserve,” said Bennett.
The money is part of the $1.8 billion announced in the 2016 federal budget to improve water infrastructure in Indigenous communities. Despite 67 long-term water advisories still in place, Bennett said she is confident the government has enough money and a process in place to complete their goal of ending water advisories by 2021.
In a written statement, Pasap emphasized that a reliable water source is essential to long-term community planning.
“Having access to clean, safe and dependable water is critical for the long-term prosperity of our community, as we continue to grow in terms of our population and economic base,” said Pasap.
Having access to clean, safe and dependable water is critical for the long-term prosperity of our community.